Presentation Mastery: The Third Stage – The Pursuit of Excellence
Once you've mastered the basic presentation skills (Stage One: Practice, Present Without Notes, and Continuous Learning) and can consistently deliver impactful presentations (Stage Two: Engaging Elements, Know Your Audience, and Unbeatable Passion), you're ready to advance to the third and ultimate stage: The Pursuit of Excellence.At this stage, presentation techniques are no longer a challenge for you. While I provided specific recommendations for each of the previous stages—Stage One: Seeing the Mountain as a Mountain, and Stage Two: Seeing the Mountain as Not a Mountain—at this final stage, I won't give you a list of recommendations—because you no longer need them! The only question I want to share with you is: What does the perfect presentation look like in your mind? How can you achieve such perfection?
There's a documentary called "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" about the world's oldest Michelin three-star chef in Japan. Even at 86 years old, he still stands at his sushi counter, personally crafting sushi for his guests. A meal at his restaurant costs approximately $300 and requires reservations at least a month in advance. This film resonated deeply with me because it highlights the philosophy of lifelong dedication to one's craft—a mindset that applies perfectly to mastering presentations as well. Despite his 75 years in the profession, Master Jiro Ono still strives for improvement daily, pursuing absolute perfection in what appears to be the simple act of making sushi.
Every two years, I push myself to take the stage at a higher level, sharing my insights on presentations and teaching experiences. As the saying goes, "Words are empty without action," which is why I hold myself to the highest standards, perfecting every aspect of presenting from the ground up. For instance, at the recent Presentation Summit, I spent nearly six months in meticulous preparation. I invited my mentor Kevin to watch my practice sessions and provide feedback. Not only did I practice extensively, but I also achieved complete memorization (over 100 slides for two sessions). I even arranged a small-scale presentation beforehand for observation and refinement. Additionally, I studied numerous books and videos about presentations from both domestic and international sources, reminding myself to "keep learning." When registration opened, I suggested the organizers include a questionnaire to better "understand the audience." During the actual presentation, beyond verbal delivery, I incorporated various short videos, examples, and interactive learning elements as "engaging components." I believe everyone in attendance could truly sense what I meant by "unbeatable passion."
The ultimate goal of presenting isn't just to demonstrate technical skill – it's to influence and transform others. I hope to guide you along this path: from seeing the mountain as a mountain (Stage One: Fundamentals) to seeing the mountain as not a mountain (Stage Two: Influence) to seeing the mountain as a mountain again (Stage Three: The Pursuit of Excellence). Let's continue growing together, seizing every presentation opportunity to refine our skills and move closer to the excellence we envision!
